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Flecks of grey lightly dot Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s hair these days. The Detroit Lions starting right guard has earned those signs of aging and wisdom, especially in the last few months.
Vaitai missed the 2022 season after undergoing back surgery. On Thursday during the Lions’ first open OTA session of the offseason, we got to see and talk to “Big V” for the first time since August. It was a moment that might not have come.
Vaitai told reporters he seriously thought about retiring after the back surgery. After a few successful seasons in the NFL and turning 30 in June, it was an option on the table. Thankfully, Vaitai quickly realized it wasn’t an option he was ready for just yet.
“I’m like, ‘What am I doing? I can’t decide what to do,'” Vaitai said. “The only thing I know is football, and so – but it was great. I got to reflect on my life and my career in the league, so it was really good and just sit down with my wife and just talk over a lot of things.”
Vaitai and his family have a ranch outside Houston, and he talked about the appeal of ranching and being with his family. But the pull of the other family–his Lions family–burned far too strong to walk away.
“I mean, I can’t leave Penei, I can’t leave my guys, I can’t leave them,” Vaitai said introspectively. “I love this team a lot. I want to help Dan (Campbell) win one.”
So Vaitai was back at OTAs, something veterans can avoid if they want. Not Vaitai. There he was taking first-team reps at right guard and moving like he’s never been spryer. Pads aren’t on yet so it’s impossible to gauge his efficacy, but his movement skills belie a man less than a year removed from back surgery.
Vaitai didn’t have fusion surgery, he informed us. It’s helped him come back quicker than teammate Levi Onwuzurike, who remains relegated to working with trainers to the side and still doesn’t look close to being ready for action. He acknowledged some pain, but it’s nothing like the agony of not being able to play with his mates.
The Lions need him. The man who admirably filled in for Vaitai last year, Evan Brown, is in Seattle. The team did bring back Graham Glasgow, but he’s struggled (badly if you ask Denver fans) with serious injuries of his own during his time with the Broncos. Rookie Colby Sorsdal has much to prove as a fifth-round pick from an FCS program.
Big V is ready to lead them all, and to do it by example on the field.